User Manual

Switch Connector – An Introduction

Updated on

In this article, you will learn

  • which parameters are available in the app, and
  • which options can be defined using them.

1. Introduction

The free Enfocus Switch app Workflow Automation – Submit allows individual or multiple PDF or image files to be submitted directly from a Switch flow to the Workflow. For each submitted file – or for each file in a folder – an Automation Job is automatically created and processed in the Workflow.

In addition to simple file submission, the app allows key production parameters to be defined at the time of submission. These include:    

  • Expected Size (Width and Height) – specify the expected dimensions of the print file. If the defined size does not match the actual dimensions of the file, a warning will be displayed in the Workflow – provided the necessary check is enabled.
  • Expected Bleed – specify the expected Bleed for the print file. Depending on the configuration chosen in the Workflow, the Bleed will either be created automatically or a warning will be issued indicating the missing Bleed.
  • Expected Number of Pages – specify the expected page count of the print product. If this value does not match the actual number of pages, a warning will be issued if the Workflow is configured accordingly.
  • Number of Copies – specify the desired number of copies for the print file. This information is stored in the Workflow and taken into account during further processing.

Additionally, user-defined fields can be passed, which must already exist in the application. This allows user-defined metadata to be used to control how the job is processed in the Workflow – from prepress to Impose and production preparation.

Available from the following versions

The Enfocus Switch Connection is available from the following versions:

  • Enfocus Switch Fall 24 and higher
  • Workflow version 1.21.2 and higher

2. Connections in Enfocus Switch

For collaboration between Switch and Workflow to function correctly, the app requires at least one incoming connection in Enfocus Switch. For outgoing connections, two different result paths are available:

OK (green/successful outgoing connection)

  • A Job is sent to this connection when the file has been successfully submitted to the Workflow and processed there.
  • This connection supports both data and log outputs.
  • The log output contains the JSON response from the Workflow API with details – such as the Job ID and status.

Error (red/failed outgoing connection)

  • A Job is sent to this connection if the submission fails or the Workflow API returns an error.
  • This connection supports both data and log outputs.
  • The log output contains the JSON response with an error description for troubleshooting and process monitoring.

2.1. Supported File Formats

It is possible to submit various file formats to the Workflow for processing. Within the Workflow, all file formats are converted to PDF. The following file formats can be sent to the Workflow:

  • PDF (.pdf)
  • TIFF (.tif | .tiff)
  • PSD (.psd)
  • PSB (.psb)
  • PS (.ps)
  • EPS (.eps)
  • PNG (.png)
  • JPEG (.jpeg)
  • SVG (.svg)
  • CF2 (.cf2)
  • Adobe Illustrator (.ai)

Multiple files can be processed as a bundle by submitting a job folder containing all files to be bundled. Subfolders within this folder must be flattened or removed before submission.

2.2. Parameters in the Switch App

Within Enfocus Switch, options can be configured in the app. The following parameters are available to the user in the Switch app:

2.2.1. General Properties

Workflow Server URL (required)

Username (required)

  • Enter the username for API authentication.
  • The default value is automation-api.

Password (required)

  • Enter the chosen password for the API user.
  • The default value is 24E97F8A-F766-4909-8276-86100B618DA1. This value is hidden in the interface.

Production Configuration (required)

  • Select the Production Configuration that should be used to process an Automation Job.
  • If the specified Production Configuration cannot be found during processing, the Swtich Job will be moved to the folder "Problem Jobs".
  • The default value is empty.

Name of the Print Item in the Automation Job

  • Enter the Print Item name to be used within the Automation Job.
  • The default value is [Job.NameProper].

2.2.2. Imposition and Bundling

Imposition with continuous processing

  • This option adds continuous Print Items to an existing Job until the defined maximum duration or utilization level is reached. Only then is the Imposition created.
  • This option is only meaningful if the selected Production Configuration creates an Imposition.
  • The default value is No.

Timeout

  • Defines the maximum number of seconds available to create the Automation Job before the Job is treated as a Problem Job.
  • The time required to upload the print data is excluded from this timeout.
  • The default value is 60 Seconds.

2.2.3. User-defined Fields

User-defined Fields for Automation Jobs

  • Syntax: <KEY>=<value>
  • Defines key/value pairs as user-defined metadata at the Job level.
  • Keys must be specified in uppercase letters.
  • Examples:
    • CUSTOMER=Acme
    • ORDERNUMBER=123456

User-defined Fields for Print Items

  • Syntax: <KEY>=<value>
  • Defines key/value pairs for user-defined fields at the Print Item level.
  • Keys must be specified in uppercase letters and must already exist in the Workflow.

2.2.4. Expected Parameters

Expected Size and Number of Pages

  • Enables the specification of expected values (Width, Height, Bleed and Number of Pages).
  • Is this option is set to No , the Workflow uses the actual values from the file.
  • The default value is No.

If the value is set to Yes, the following properties are available:

  • Width of the Print Item
    • Expected Production Width (final format without Bleed).
  • Height of the Print Item
    • Expected Production Height (final format without Bleed).
  • Bleed
    • Expected Bleed on all pages.
    • The default value is 3.
  • Unit
    • Unit for Width, Height and Bleed.
    • The default value is mm.
    • Possible values are mm, inch and pt.
  • Number of Pages
    • Expected number of pages per Print Item.
    • The default value is 1.

Article Update: Workflow 1.22.0 – 12/2025

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